Bryan Deardoff with Norfork Lake Crappie. He is one good fisherman.
The lake level is 553.74 and still rising very slowly with about 4-hours of running one generator. They are managing the level to stay right at or just under the top of the power pool of 553.75 with no effort at a winter drawdown. It is at a good level but there is almost no capacity for the spring rains. If they keep this up we are almost sure to have high water again in the spring unless we have a drought. The surface water tmeperature is hanging in there at just under 50-degrees and should rise a bit in the next couple of days with the very warm weather forecasted. The clarity is about the same but is trying to clear just a little each day and I can see my lure down about 4-5 feet. Blackburns has several fishermen in now and some are trolling for Stripers and some are spooning for them and others are crappie and bass fishing. The spooners are catching a few catfish and White Bass on shad in deep water with the moon getting smaller and the water rising. The catfish usually slow way down with the winter cold temperatures but a lot of things are changing with the much lower numbers of larger stripers. Many more fish of different species are in open water on shad than before. Drop a spoon in shad and you can catch about anything. The black bass fishing is getting better as the striper and other temperate bass slows and go deeper. That is common for January. Crappie fishing had been good but slowed for me yesterday but I still caught a few and some largemouth bass just inside brush casting the jig. The usual fast bite just before dark did not happen but it is too early to draw any conclusions. You cannot go out there once or twice a week and make an accurate report, especially this time of year. You can be on them for several days and then they are gone and you have to start all over. That is what makes it interesting and they do not feed as often in the colder water. They were having a big fish-fry outside of cabin #15 last evening so they must have caught something. We continue to make improvements here at Blackburns and are trying to spend your money wisely. Come on down and check us out. We will not charge you too much and your first boat stall is free. All cabins are individual with no duplexes and all have big covered porches. There will be no price increases again this year as we continue to be the best value in the Ozarks. Deposits are due January 15th to confirm your reservations for spring and summer. Give Debbie a call at 870-492-5115.
